General News of Monday, 3 June 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

More than eight hours down pour claims five lives in Takoradi

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The heavy rains witnessed last Friday within the Sekondi /Takoradi Metropolis destroyed properties and also claimed the lives of five children in Ngyeresia, a fishing community in the Metropolis.

The home, accommodating six children could no longer stand the wrath of the torrential and non stopping rains and therefore caved in on the children killing five of them and leaving one in a critical condition.

The children Auntie Ama 17, Ama Dekye 13, Clement Arhin Jnr. 9, Emmanuel Annan 7 and Beatrice Amoah one year old, were confirmed dead on arrival at the Essikado Government Hospital.

The assembly member for the Area, Mr. John Amakye who confirmed the story to the GNA said the mortal remains of the five were currently at the Effia-Nkwanta Morgue for Autopsy and preservation for further action.

A resident told the GNA at sekondi that, "For the first time I got scared for my life as I walk through the floods to my home".

Meanwhile, the Western Regional Minister has visited the bereaved families and assured them of the repair of the house and any needed assistance during the burial and funeral rites of the five children.

The Sekondi police station, St. Andrews Anglican Church, Shell filling station just around Nabgas and Western Regional coordinating offices were all flooded stopping vehicular and human movement.

At Bakodo and Boabakrom, a flood prone area in the STMA, the situation was not different as people’s houses were partially submerged by the rain water.

At Kansaworado, Ntankorful and some parts of Anaji most bridges and culverts in the communities were submerged.

The Power Distribution Service (PDS) sub-station in Sekondi, which supplies power to most parts of Takoradi was not left out, it got flooded forcing the company to switch off its equipment to protect the facility.

A release issued by the Public Relations Department of the STMA read, “in view of the long hours of rains across the Metropolis throughout the day, I kindly urge you all to bring to my attention areas reported of flooding for the necessary attention".

Mr. John Laste, the STMA PRO called on residents to cooperate as the Assembly together with NADMO work to salvage the situation.